Olive tree named ‘SEPOKA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Olea europaea  L. olive tree variety named ‘SEPOKA’, particularly characterized as a small to medium-sized tree facilitating hand picking, suitable for intensive orchard growing with harvesting from the ground level with only minimal pruning required, good resistance to  Spilocaea oleagina  and elongated shaped fruit, with attractive, shiny appearance, light green-yellow colored skin covered with large greenish mottles which is suitable for both green and black pickling (particularly desirable for green processing).

Botanical name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Oleaeuropaea L.

Variety denomination: ‘SEPOKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of an olivetree, botanically described as Olea europaea L. of the Oleaceae family,and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘SEPOKA’.

The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ is a product of a planned breedingprogram conducted by the inventors, Shimon Lavee, Benjamin Avidan andYair Manni, in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop a new Olea europaea L. variety which is suitable for bothgreen and black pickling, exhibits resistance to Spilocaea oleagina(peacock eye leaf disease), requires minimal pruning and facilitateshand-picking.

The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ originated as a result of selfpollination of the Olea europaea L. ‘KADESH’ (unpatented) made by theinventors in 1990 in Bet Dagan, Israel. The new Olea europaea L.‘SEPOKA’ was observed and selected from the progeny of the statedself-pollination in 1994 by the inventors in a controlled in Bet Dagan,Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Olea europaea L. ‘SEPOKA’ by rooting ofvegetative cuttings was first performed in the spring of 1995 in BetDagan, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixedand retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Thenew variety propagates true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe characteristics of ‘SEPOKA’ which in combination distinguish thisolive tree as a new, unique and distinct variety:

-   -   1. A small to medium-sized tree facilitating hand picking;    -   2. Suitable for intensive orchard growing with harvesting from        the ground level with only minimal pruning required;    -   3. Good resistance to Spilocaea oleagina L.; and    -   4. Elongated shaped fruit, with attractive, shiny appearance,        light green-yellow colored skin with large greenish mottles        which is suitable for both green and black pickling        (particularly desirable for green processing).

In comparison to the unpatented, parental variety Olea europaea L.‘KADESH’, the new Olea europaea L. ‘SEPOKA’ differs primarily in thetraits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent variety. Parent New Variety ‘KADESH’Trait ‘SEPOKA’ (unpatented) Trunk circumference About 40 cm About 42 cm(measured at 50 cm above ground) Tree Habit Semi-spreading Round TreeHeight Upto about 3.0 m Upto about 4.0 m

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Olea europaea L. ‘SEPOKA’ is Olea europaeaL. ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented). ‘SEPOKA’ differs from ‘BARNEA’ in the traitsdescribed in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with a well known commercial variety. New VarietyComparison variety Trait ‘SEPOKA’ ‘BARNEA’ Tree type Semi-dwarf NormalConspicuousness of Strong Weak marbling Time of ripening Very lateMedium

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Olea europaea L. ‘SEPOKA’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed morphological description, which accurately describe the colorof ‘SEPOKA’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 10-year old specimenof ‘SEPOKA’ exhibiting its overall appearance.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical unripe, fully grown fruit of‘SEPOKA’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical ripe, fully grown fruit of‘SEPOKA’ and it's flesh.

DETAILED MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Olea europaea L. ‘SEPOKA’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theolive tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘SEPOKA’ asgrown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel, under conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice inIsrael. Trees of ‘SEPOKA’ are planted at a distance of 4×7 meters insandy red loam soil at an elevation of about 30 meters above sea level.Trees of ‘SEPOKA’ are irrigated by drip system (about 4 liters per hour)during the summer. Average annual rainfall is about 550 mm, with anaverage 350 mm of rainfall in winter (December to February). NPKfertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is administered through the drip system.Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnalmaximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed morphological description includesobservations, measurements and values based on ten-year-old ‘SEPOKA’trees grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2004 to 2007.Quantitative data are expressed as an average of measurements taken from10 parts of trees of ‘SEPOKA’. The measurements of any individual tree,or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the statedaverage.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of fullsunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘SEPOKA’, insofar as they have been observed, havebeen consistent in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Olea europaea L.-   Parentage: Self pollination of Olea europaea L. ‘KADESH’    (unpatented)-   Propagation:    -   -   Method.—Rooting of cuttings.-   Growing conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.        -   Temperature.—Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is            7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is            30.8° C.        -   Fertilization.—NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is            administered through the drip system.        -   Growth regulators.—No growth regulators are used.        -   Pruning or trimming requirements.—The olive tree of ‘SEPOKA’            as described is grown without training. When the trees are            freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the plants            are not typical of Olea europaea L. species.        -   Plant.—Type: Semi-dwarf. Growth habit: semi-spreading.            Vigor: strong. Height: up to about 3 m. Diameter (Spread of            Canopy: about 2.8 m. Circumference of trunk (at 50 cm            height): about 40 cm. Attitude of branches: erect. Density            of canopy: dense. Aspect of bark: semi-rough. Bark color:            gray RHS 198 A. Lenticles: not visible. Abnormal leaves:            present. Shape of abnormal leaves: falsiform.        -   Main branch.—Number of main branches per tree: 3 or 4            resulting from pruning. Length: the length of the branch is            up to 3 meters. Diameter: 10-15 cm. Color: gray RHS 198 B.            Angle of main brunches with axis of the tree: about 30°.            Surface: slightly rough. Lenticles: not visible.        -   One year old Shoot.—Shape in cross section: round. Diameter:            5-9 mm. Color: gray RHS 156 A. Surface: smooth. Lenticles:            present. Density of lenticles: sparse. Shape of lenticel:            round. Size of lenticle: minuscule. Color of lenticel: gray            between RHS 196A and RHS 196 B.        -   Fruiting shoot.—Color: light grey. Length of node: medium            22-30 mm. Feathers (side branching of shoot): medium.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: the arrangement of the leaves is            typical of Olea europaea L. species (two opposite leaves per            each node).        -   Leaf blade.—Size: very small to small. Ratio length/width:            medium. Length: 48-58 mm. Width: 8-11 mm. Shape: elliptic.            Glossiness: present. Color of upper side: medium green RHS            137 C. Color of lower side: grey-green RHS 148 D. Curvature            of longitudinal axis of blade: flat. Twisting: present.            Margin: entire. Undulation of margin: very weak. Shape of            apex: acute. Shape of base: acute. Upper surface: smooth.            Lower surface: smooth. Pubescence of upper side: glabrous.            Pubescence of lower side: glabrous. Color of main vein of            upper side: dark green RHS 146 B. Color of main vein of            lower side: dark green RHS 146 B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5-7 mm. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:            grey-green RHS 148 D.        -   Inflorescence.—Structure: raceme. Shape: elongated.            Branching: strong. Axillary flowers: absent. Length: varies            up to 15 cm. Diameter: varies up to 5 cm. Number of flowers            per inflorescence: numerous. Fruits per inflorescence: 1.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: obovoid. Size (just before opening):            minuscule. Color: greenish between RHS 145 C and RHS 145 D.            Pubescence: strong. Bud length: about 4 mm. Bud diameter:            about 3 mm.        -   Flower.—Diameter: 5-7 mm. Color: white RHS 155 A. Color of            pollen: yellow RHS 3A. Fragrance: mild.        -   Corolla segment.—Number per flower: 4. Length: about 3mm.            Width: about 2 mm. Shape: elliptic. Shape of apex: rounded.            Base: fused. Color of upper side: white RHS 155 A. Color of            lower side: white RHS 155 A.        -   Calyx lobe.—Number per lower: 4. Shape: funnel. Length:            about 1 mm. Width: less than 1 mm. Shape of apex: acute.            Base: fused. Margin: entire. Color of upper side: typical.            Color of lower side: typical.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 1-2 mm. Diameter: less than 1 mm. Surface:            smooth. Color: very light green RHS 145 D.        -   Fruit.—        -   Fruit (drupe).—In the following description, Position A            refers to the position in which the fruit shows its largest            asymmetry. Position B can be reached from position A by            turning 90 degrees along the longitudinal axes in a way that            presents the most developed part of the fruit to the            observer (according to UPOV rules). Maturity when described:            ripe for eating. Size: medium. Weight: 4-6.2 g. Length:            22-26 mm. Diameter: 13-15 mm. Length/diameter ratio: 2.5.            Shape: elongated. Transversal section shape: circular. Green            color: RHS 144 A. Color when physiologically ripe: light            violet RHS 60 B. Color of flash (freshly cut): beige RHS            159 A. Conspicuousness of marble: strong. Size of mottles:            medium. Color of mottles: greenish RHS 145 C. Symmetry in            position A: strongly asymmetric. Symmetry in position B:            weakly asymmetric. Position of maximum diameter: central.            Shape of apex in position A: rounded. Shape of apex in            position B: rounded. Mucron: absent. Position of pistil            scar: not central. Shape of base in position A: truncate.            Shape of base in position B: rounded. Percentage of stone:            10.5-16.1. Pulp/stone ratio: about 7.04. Pulp/stone            detachment: free stone. Conspicuousness of suture:            inconspicuous. Fruit suture curvature: not relevant. Oil            content for fresh matter%-Percent of oil in mesocarp            (Analyzed at 50% black fruit): 17.1. Percentage of dry            weight: 27.4. Production per tree: about 28 kg. Oleic acid:            not recorded. Polyphenol content: not recorded. Organoleptic            characteristics: not recorded.        -   Stalk.—Length: 13-21 mm. Thickness: about 1 mm. Color: light            yellow green RHS 145 C. Width of stalk cavity: narrow, about            4-5 mm. Shape of stalk cavity: circular. Depth of stalk            cavity: shallow, about 2 mm. Shape of cross section:            circular.        -   Stone.—Shape in position A: elongated. Shape in position B:            elongated. Symmetry in position A: weakly asymmetric.            Symmetry in position B: symmetrical. Shape of cross section:            circular. Position of largest cross section: central.            Grooving: weak. Distribution of grooves: including apex.            Number of grooves on basal end: more than 10. Distribution            of grooves on basal end: irregular. Shape of distal end in            position A: pointed. Shape of distal end in position B:            pointed. Mucron: present. Shape of base in position A:            pointed. Shape of base in position B: truncate.            Conspicuousness of suture: absent. Curvature of suture: not            relevant. Size: medium. Length: 17-21 mm. Diameter: 7-8 mm.            Color when dry: beige RHS 164 D. Weight: about 0.625 g.        -   Time of flowering.—Mid April in Bet Dagan, Israel.        -   Flowering period.—About 10 days in Bet Dagan Israel.        -   Time of ripening (green maturation).—End of August in Bet            Dagan Israel.        -   Period of ripening.—About 2 Weeks in Bet Dagan Israel.-   Resistance to abiotic factors:    -   -   Cold.—Observed resistance of down to 0° C. in Bet Dagan,            Israel-   Resistance to parasites:    -   -   Spilocaea oleagina.—‘SEPOKA’ exhibits resistance.        -   Pseudomonas savastanoi.—‘SEPOKA’ has not been tested.

1. A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named‘SEPOKA’, as illustrated and described herein.